Three dead after biofuel plant incident in Nebraska

Three people—two young girls and one adult—have been confirmed dead following a powerful explosion that ripped through a biofuels plant in Nebraska, authorities said Wednesday. The blast, which occurred on Tuesday, left the facility in ruins and ignited fires that firefighters have been battling for nearly 24 hours.

“My heart hurts,” Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg said at a news conference. “It’s a tragedy. We pray for every person involved.”

According to Spellerberg, the two children had been waiting for the plant employee—presumed to be the third victim—to finish their shift so they could head to a doctor’s appointment. The mayor noted that both children were under the age of 12 but did not specify their exact ages.

Images taken after the explosion show the plant’s tall tower sheared off, exposing twisted steel and torn siding. Debris was scattered across the property, and residents reported feeling their homes shake from the force of the blast.

Explosion in Fremont, Nebraska: What We Know

A massive explosion ripped through the Horizon Biofuels plant in Fremont, Nebraska, just before noon on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, causing severe structural damage—including the top of the plant’s tall tower being torn off—and triggering a fire that has burned for more than a day. Two young girls (both under age 12) and an adult plant employee were reported missing after the blast and later confirmed dead; search efforts were hampered by blazing flames, heavy smoke, and unstable building conditions. Nearby residents described the explosion as powerful enough to shake homes and emit a massive plume of smoke.

Nearby resident Taylor Kirklin, who lives about half a mile from the plant, said the explosion was jarring. “Our whole house shook,” she said. “It was so loud, we thought someone had crashed into our dog kennel business.”

Kirklin added that a massive plume of smoke followed the blast, and confusion spread quickly. “We weren’t even sure which plant it was at first—there are so many facilities nearby.”

Fremont, with a population of roughly 27,000, is Nebraska’s sixth-largest city and lies about 32 miles northwest of Omaha.

How many people were injured in the explosion?
As of the latest reports, authorities have confirmed three fatalities (two children and an adult) but have not reported any survivors or additional injuries at this time. While the three missing individuals were inside the plant at the time of the explosion, no other injuries have been publicly disclosed. The focus has shifted from rescue to recovery, as fire and debris continue to delay access to the site.

What caused the explosion?
Officials—led by Spellerberg—suspect the explosion was triggered by wood dust accumulation in the elevator section of the facility, where the plant processes tons of wood waste into animal bedding and wood pellets. While investigations are ongoing, there is also speculation that stored alcohol-based materials at the site may have fueled the intensity of the fire. The combination of combustible dust and organic materials appears to be the most plausible explanation cited by authorities so far.

Fire crews have been unable to enter the Horizon Biofuels plant to search for those missing after Tuesday’s massive explosion, due to ongoing flames and hazardous conditions, Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg said.

“The fire burned through the night, even in the rain,” Spellerberg told Omaha radio station KFAB on Wednesday morning. “The feed mill and office areas have been engulfed in flames—it really hasn’t stopped.”

Fremont Fire Chief Todd Bernt described intense conditions when first responders arrived on scene, citing “heavy smoke and a lot of flames.” The Horizon facility, located in an industrial area surrounded by manufacturing and food processing plants, posed unique challenges.

A previous fire in 2014 damaged the electrical system but left the building structurally intact, according to the Fremont Tribune.